What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) combines cognitive and behavioural approaches with principles of mindfulness and acceptance. It aims to help individuals develop psychological flexibility by accepting their thoughts and emotions while committing to actions aligned with their values. ACT was developed by Steven Hayes, Kelly Wilson, and Kirk Strosahl.
How does IH Psychotherapy utilize Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
When we employ ACT during therapy, we support and guide clients in cultivating mindfulness, self-compassion, and accepting the inevitable challenges and uncertainties of life. Through these challenges clients develop psychological flexibility, enabling them to respond more effectively to difficult thoughts and emotions. Additionally, we encourage clients to explore and clarify their values, as this could help them make choices and take actions that align with their authentic selves.
What are the tenets of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
1. Acceptance: Encourages individuals to accept their thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations instead of trying to suppress or control them, recognizing that struggle can often intensify suffering.
2. Cognitive diffusion: Involves observing thoughts from a detached perspective, recognizing that thoughts are not necessarily an accurate reflection of reality, and gaining distance from distressing or intrusive thoughts.
3. Contact with the present moment: Fosters mindfulness by cultivating an awareness of the present moment, allowing individuals to fully engage with their experiences without judgement or excessive attention to the past or future.
4. Self-as-context: Promotes the understanding that individuals are more than their thoughts, emotions, or experiences, and encourages an observer perspective to create psychological flexibility.
5. Values: Identifies the individual’s most important values and helps them take committed actions that align with those values, leading to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
6. Committed Action: Encourages individuals to set goals and take action towards leading a purposeful life according to their values, even in the presence of challenging thoughts or emotions.
What issues does Acceptance and Commitment Therapy address?
ACT is used to treat a range of mental health concerns, including anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain, eating disorders, workplace stress, and relationship problems.
What does research show about the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Research on ACT has shown promising results across various populations and clinical issues. Some studies have found that ACT is effective in reducing psychological distress (Pridenzi, 2022), improving quality of life, and enhancing psychological flexibility (Dindo et al., 2017). It is particularly useful in managing chronic pain (Vowles et al., 2014), anxiety disorders (Hasheminasab et al., 2015), depression (A-Tjak et al., 2018), and substance abuse (Osaji et al., 2020). However, further research is still required to establish its effectiveness compared to other therapeutic approaches in different contexts.
It’s important to note that research outcomes may vary across different populations and issues, and further research is ongoing to explore the effectiveness of ACT in different contexts. It’s always advisable to consult a trained professional and consider multiple sources of evidence to make informed decisions about therapy approaches.
References
A-Tjak, J. G., Morina, N., Topper, M., & Emmelkamp, P. M. (2018). A randomized controlled trial routine clinical practice comparing acceptance and commitment therapy with cognitive behavioural therapy for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 87(3), 154-163. https://doi.org/10.1159/000486807
Dindo, L., Van Liew, J. R., & Arch, J. J. (2017). Acceptance and commitment therapy: A transdiagnostic behavioural intervention for mental health and medical conditions. Neurotherapeutics, 14(3), 546-553. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-017-0521-3
Hasheminasab, M., Babapour Kheiroddin, J., Mahmood Aliloo, M., & Fakhari, A. (2015). Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for generalized anxiety disorder. Iran Journal of Public Health, 44(5), 718-719.
Osaji, J., Ojimba, C., & Ahmed, S. (2020). The use of acceptance and commitment therapy in substance use disorders: A review of literature, 12(10), 629-633.
Prudenzi, A. (2022). A workplace acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention for improving healthcare staff psychological distress: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS One, 17(4), e0266357. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266357
Vowles, K. E., Fink, B. C., & Cohen, L. L. (2014). Acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain: A diary of treatment process in relation to reliable change in disability. Journal of Contextual Behavioural Science. 3(2), 74-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2014.04.003